My hesitation in using Adenosine in this lady was due to the Manufacturer's Patient
Information leaflet stating "Do not allow anyone to give you this product if
you are pregnant." My feeling was that the very short half life, and the nature
of this naturally occuring drug, meant that the drug was safe, and my instinct
was to give it. The mother was not haemodynamically compromised by the SVT,
so I had a bit of time to investigate further.
The BNF lists no contra-indication for adenosine in pregnancy, so having tried
the full gambit of vagotonic tricks with no success we persuaded the mother
that adenosine was the first drug of choice with the help of advice from the
Guy's Hospital Reg. for Advice on Prescribing in Pregnancy, and she cardioverted
with 6mg. (Fetal ultrasound the next morning showed a healthy baby.)
Incidentally, I have twice placed patients in a supine position to perform carotid
sinus massage, only to find the change of position has caused cardioversion.
Marten Howes
Sp Reg
Preston
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